Mandya: Nine persons, followers of JD(S) National General Secretary Zafrullah Khan, charged with murdering a rice merchant in 2010, were sentenced to life imprisonment by the IV Additional District and Sessions Court in Mandya yesterday.

According to the Mandya West Station Police, Rafi Ulla was brutally attacked by the gang with lethal weapons on Jan.18, 2010.

Rafi Ulla, a rice merchant in Mandya, was murdered in broad daylight on a street over a land dispute.

Later, nine were arrested in connection with the murder. All facing charge of murder were sentenced to life by the Court.

They are: Former Mandya City Municipal Council (CMC) Members Mujahid Pasha and Afroz Ahmed, and their associates Mujahid Ahmed, Firdos Ahmed, Matib Ahmed, Irshad Ali Khan, Imran Pasha, Mohammed Ali and Tousif Ahmed.

Zafrullah Khan was named as accused No.1 in the FIR. However, he approached the High Court. Later, his name was removed based on the Court order.

The Judge, Rajeshwari N. Hegde, sentenced all the nine to life imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs.25,000 each, the Police added. Kalingappa was the Public Prosecutor.